LAKE MEAD NATIONAL RECREATION AREA IS FURTHER MODIFYING OPERATIONS TO IMPLEMENT LATEST HEALTH GUIDANCE

March 22, 2020

BOULDER CITY, Nevada – Lake Mead National Recreation Area, in response to Nevada Declaration of Emergency Directive 003 issued by the Governor of the State of Nevada, is announcing additional modifications to operations to support federal, state and local efforts to slow the spread of the novel coronavirus (COVID-19).

Lake Mead National Recreation Area is the sixth most visited unit of the National Park Service. The park had nearly 40,000 visitors to the park on March 21, nearly double normal visitation for this time of year.

As of Monday, March 23, Lake Mead National Recreation Area will offer very limited services outside those that support visitor or resource protection. At Lake Mead, the following visitor services and operations will be suspended in order to comply with coronavirus protective guidelines.

All Nevada parking areas and roads will be closed to vehicles

All Nevada park facilities will be closed, including restrooms

All Nevada public beaches and picnic areas

All Nevada marina operations

All Nevada campgrounds

All Nevada launch ramps

Previously announced closures are still in effect

The park will not issue permits nor conduct on-site public or educational programs.

The park remains open to day-use walkers, hikers and bicyclists. The popular 34-mile River Mountains Loop Multi-use Trail remains open. Visitors are asked to “pack it in and pack it out.”

Overnight park visitors will be given until noon March 25, 2020, to make alternate accommodations and leave the park.

Those with personal property within the park, such as boats, trailers or cabins, will be allowed vehicular access into the park to either remove their vessels or trailers or to remove belongings from their property. Boats may not be removed from slips for recreation purposes within the park, and overnight stays are prohibited after March 24.

Park visitors are encouraged to take advantage of the many digital tools already available to explore the park. Visitors are encouraged to learn about park resources and stories through the many multimedia presentations currently available on the park’s website, such as the virtual museum or virtual hike along Historic Railroad Trail.

The health and safety of our visitors, employees, volunteers and partners at Lake Mead National Recreation Area is our number one priority. The National Park Service is working with the federal, state and local authorities to closely monitor the novel coronavirus (COVID-19) situation. We will notify the public when we resume full operations and provide updates on our website and social media channels.

The NPS urges visitors to do their part when visiting a park and to follow CDC guidance to prevent the spread of infectious diseases by maintaining a safe distance between yourself and other groups; washing your hands often with soap and water for at least 20 seconds; avoiding touching your eyes, nose, and mouth; covering your mouth and nose when you cough or sneeze; and most importantly, staying home if you feel sick.

For high-risk populations, such as the elderly and people with underlying conditions, we ask that they take extra caution and follow CDC guidance for those at higher risk of serious illness.